Job 31
1 I reached an agreement with my eyes, that I would not so much as think about a virgin.
Jeg sluttede en Pagt med mit Øje om ikke at se paa en Jomfru;
2 For what portion should God from above hold for me, and what inheritance should the Almighty from on high keep?
hvad var ellers min Lod fra Gud hist oppe, den Arv, den Almægtige gav fra det høje?
3 Is not destruction held for the wicked and repudiation kept for those who work injustice?
Har ikke den lovløse Vanheld i Vente, Udaadsmændene Modgang?
4 Does he not examine my ways and number all my steps?
Ser han ej mine Veje og tæller alle mine Skridt?
5 If I have walked in vanity, or if my foot has hurried towards deceitfulness,
Har jeg holdt til med Løgn, og hasted min Fod til Svig —
6 let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.
paa Rettens Vægtskaal veje han mig, saa Gud kan kende min Uskyld —
7 If my steps have turned aside from the way, or if my heart has followed my eyes, or if a blemish has clung to my hands,
er mit Skridt bøjet af fra Vejen, og har mit Hjerte fulgt mine Øjne, hang noget ved mine Hænder,
8 then may I sow, and let another consume, and let my offspring be eradicated.
da gid jeg maa saa og en anden fortære, og hvad jeg planted, oprykkes med Rode!
9 If my heart has been deceived over a woman, or if I have waited in ambush at my friend’s door,
Blev jeg en Daare paa Grund af en Kvinde, og har jeg luret ved Næstens Dør,
10 then let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lean over her.
saa dreje min Hustru Kværn for en anden, og andre bøje sig over hende!
11 For this is a crime and a very great injustice.
Thi sligt var Skændselsdaad, Brøde, der drages for Retten,
12 It is a fire devouring all the way to perdition, and it roots out all that springs forth.
ja, Ild, der æder til Afgrunden og sætter hele min Høst i Brand!
13 If I have despised being subject to judgment with my servant or my maid, when they had any complaint against me,
Har jeg ringeagtet min Træls og min Trælkvindes Ret, naar de trættede med mig,
14 then what will I do when God rises to judge, and, when he inquires, how will I respond to him?
hvad skulde jeg da gøre, naar Gud stod op, hvad skulde jeg svare, naar han saa efter?
15 Is not he who created me in the womb, also he who labored to make him? And did not one and the same form me in the womb?
Har ikke min Skaber skabt ham i Moders Skød, har en og samme ej dannet os begge i Moders Liv?
16 If I have denied the poor what they wanted and have made the eyes of the widow wait;
Har jeg afslaaet ringes Ønske, ladet Enkens Øjne vansmægte,
17 if I have eaten my morsel of food alone, while orphans have not eaten from it;
var jeg ene om at spise mit Brød, har den faderløse ej spist deraf —
18 (for from my infancy mercy grew with me, and it came out with me from my mother’s womb; )
nej, fra Barnsben fostred jeg ham som en Fader, jeg ledede hende fra min Moders Skød.
19 if I have looked down on him who was perishing because he had no clothing and the poor without any covering,
Har jeg set en Stakkel blottet for Klæder, en fattig savne et Tæppe —
20 if his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
visselig nej, hans Hofter velsigned mig, naar han varmed sig i Uld af mine Lam.
21 if I have lifted up my hand over an orphan, even when it might seem to me that I have the advantage over him at the gate;
Har jeg løftet min Baand mod en faderløs, fordi jeg var vis paa Medhold i Retten,
22 then may my shoulder fall from its joint, and may my arm, with all its bones, be broken.
saa falde min Skulder fra Nakken, saa rykkes min Arm af Led!
23 For I have always feared God, like waves flowing over me, whose weight I was unable to bear.
Thi Guds Rædsel var kommet over mig, og naar han rejste sig, magted jeg intet!
24 If I have considered gold to be my strength, or if I have called purified gold ‘my Trust;’
Har jeg slaaet min Lid til Guld, kaldt det rene Guld min Fortrøstning,
25 if I have rejoiced over my great success, and over the many things my hand has obtained;
var det min Glæde, at Rigdommen voksed, og at min Haand fik sanket saa meget,
26 if I gazed upon the sun when it shined and the moon advancing brightly,
saa jeg, hvorledes Sollyset straaled, eller den herligt skridende Maane,
27 so that my heart rejoiced in secret and I kissed my hand with my mouth,
og lod mit Hjerte sig daare i Løn, saa jeg hylded dem med Kys paa min Haand —
28 which is a very great iniquity and a denial against the most high God;
ogsaa det var Brøde, der drages for Retten, thi da fornægted jeg Gud hist oppe.
29 if I have been glad at the ruin of him who hated me and have exulted that evil found him,
Var min Avindsmands Fald min Glæd jubled jeg, naar han ramtes af Vanheld —
30 for I have not been given my throat to sin by asking for a curse on his soul;
nej, jeg tillod ikke min Gane at synde, saa jeg bandende kræved hans Sjæl.
31 if the men around my tabernacle have not said: “He might give us some of his food, so that we will be filled,”
Har min Husfælle ej maattet sige: »Hvem mættedes ej af Kød fra hans Bord« —
32 for the foreigner did not remain at the door, my door was open to the traveler;
nej, den fremmede laa ej ude om Natten, jeg aabned min Dør for Vandringsmænd.
33 if, as man does, I have hidden my sin and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom;
Har jeg skjult mine Synder, som Mennesker gør, saa jeg dulgte min Brøde i Brystet
34 if I became frightened by an excessive crowd, and the disrespect of close relatives alarmed me, so that I would much rather have remained silent or have gone out the door;
af Frygt for den store Hob, af Angst for Stamfrænders Ringeagt, saa jeg blev inden Døre i Stilhed! —
35 then, would he grant me a hearing, so that the Almighty would listen to my desire, and he who judges would himself write a book,
Ak, var der dog en, der hørte paa mig! Her er mit Bomærke — lad den Almægtige svare! Havde jeg blot min Modparts Indlæg!
36 which I would then carry on my shoulder and wrap around me like a crown?
Sandelig, tog jeg det paa min Skulder, kransed mit Hoved dermed som en Krone,
37 With each of my steps, I would pronounce and offer it, as if to a prince.
svared ham for hvert eneste Skridt og mødte ham som en Fyrste.
38 So, if my land cries out against me, and if its furrows weep with it,
Har min Mark maattet skrige over mig og alle Furerne græde,
39 if I have used its fruits for nothing but money and have afflicted the souls of its tillers,
har jeg tæret dens Kraft uden Vederlag, udslukt dens Ejeres Liv,
40 then, may thistles spring forth for me instead of grain, and thorns instead of barley. (This ended the words of Job.)
saa gro der Tjørn for Hvede og Ukrudt i Stedet for Byg! Her ender Jobs Ord.
